Drugstore Gems: The Best Beauty Products Under $25

It is possible to buy luxury-level beauty items at the drugstore, if you know what to look for

They’re the Holy Grail of beauty products: drugstore buys that are exceptionally effective and budget friendly. While there used to be a clear distinction between high-end and low-end beauty products, these days, thanks to technological advances, you can pick up luxury-level items at a fraction of the price of their department store counterparts – if you know what to look for at the drugstore.

Some of these products come from the same family as higher end lines and benefit from the trickling down of R&D, especially once patents expire. Others are manufactured in the same factories and benefit from the same ingredients and production standards, but just bear a different label. Others are just great because they’re simple and effective.

Here are my favourite picks for budget-friendly makeup, skincare, hair care and tools/accessories that perform well above their price points. All of these items are available at London Drugs.

Makeup

The sheer volume of drugstore makeup options can seem intimidating, but one surefire way of finding out which products are best is to ask which ones sell out the quickest and which items carry limited editions or seasonal colours.

Try these, pictured above, from left to right:

1. Sally Hanson Airbrush Legs. The most popular self-tanner on the market, it provides a near-instant, streak-free glow to legs and any other parts of the body that need a little help transitioning from the winter. Comes in lotion (shown) and in aerosol forms; choose the former for easier, fool-proof application (and you get more product for your money). Comes in four neutral matte shades. $16.99
2. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter. If you haven’t heard of these, you’ve been hiding under a rock. These tinted lip balms provide a glossy sheen of sheer colour while hydrating your lips with mango, shea and coconut butters. There are 20 shades in the permanent collection (Strawberry Shortcake and Peach Parfait being the most popular in Vancouver) with two or three limited edition colours released for each season. $10.49
3. Maybelline Volum’Express The Falsies Mascara. How wonderful to find a tubing mascara in a drugstore. For anyone who has ever dealt with the dreaded raccoon eyes, get this. The polymers literally form a flexible tube around each eyelash that remains intact until removed with warm water. $8.99
4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. This is another product that’s normally associated with higher-end brands. This gel eyeliner delivers intense pigment with ease. And, unlike most applicators that come with a product and immediately get tossed, the brush that comes with this eyeliner is actually good. An amazing value for two items that you can easily pick up anywhere. Comes in four colours (black, brown, charcoal and eggplant). $11.99
5. L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow. These little pots deliver intense colour payoff. The texture is in-between cream and powder, making them extremely easy to apply. The formulation contains special oils to make the colour more intense while helping the product adhere to the eyelid, claiming it will last 24 hours while remaining waterproof and crease-proof. The darker colours are perfect for making a smokey eye (try Ultra Black for a matte black, or Eternal Black for a shimmery black). There are 24 colours in the permanent collection, with two or three limited-edition colours released each season. But act quickly if you’re a fan; the Spring/Summer colours sold out in two weeks. $10.99
6. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Formulas. Maudlin name and design aside, these little compacts of stamped and coloured hearts actually do deliver a lovely product. The blushes provide a natural flush to the cheeks while the bronzers impart a healthy glow. Both contain subtle shimmer. Blushes come in four shades, $15.49; bronzers come in two shades, $19.99.

Hair Care

You can take pride in your mane without dropping hundreds of dollars on salon products. These five superstar hair styling products will ensure your hair remains protected, healthy and perfectly coiffed.

Pictured above, from left to right:

1. Live Clean Shampoo and Conditioner. Fairly new to shelves, this brand is proving to be dependable, and at a fantastic price point. The shampoos and conditioners are workhorse performers at the core of this collection. This brand is free of SLS, parabens, phthalates, DEA, and phosphates, and is cruelty-free to boot. Shampoos and conditioners are $7.99 each.
2. Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine, Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment. Frizzies be banished with this miraculous product. It’s ultra-lightweight and only a tiny drop is needed. You can add a dollop to your conditioner for some deep conditioning, add it to damp hair to help it dry faster and add shine, or smooth it over dry hair to keep those flyaways tamed. 375 fl oz, $7.99
3. CHI 44 Iron Guard. This thermal protection spray will protect your hair up to 300°F. Many other products only protect up to 230°F, so this is important to note if you favour heat styling. And if you’re using a curling wand or flat iron, just like with any other styling product, make sure your hair is completely dry before adding direct heat. 8.5 fl oz, $14.99
4. L’Oreal Elnet hairspray. This product still seems to be unknown in Canada, but in the UK and Europe, everyone knows about Elnet because it’s a makeup artist’s favourite and is seen backstage behind every red carpet and fashion show. This hairspray offers amazing hold with a truly fine mist, yet can be brushed out without any sign of stickiness. It will also add volume without the dreaded crunchies. Perfection in a bottle. Starting at $6.99.
5. Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo. Dry shampoos are a must if you travel a lot, love to sleep in or just have oily hair. Dry shampoos can extend your hair style by an extra day or two if you’d rather not wash. Simply direct the spray into the roots, massage well (to help the powder absorb excess oils), then brush out any excess. Klorane seems to be more forgiving than other dry shampoos with respect to leaving a matte finish, but if you want to restore more lustre, make sure you add your shine product only to the ends or you’ll find yourself back at square one. Available in original scent or fragrance-free. $15.99

Skin Care

Skin care products can make life so much more comfortable, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay more for specialty items. Sometimes, simpler is better.

Try these, pictured above, from left to right:

1. Cetaphil Skin Cleanser. Dermatologists routinely recommend this product, it’s that gentle and that effective. Even if you don’t consider yourself to have problem skin, why use something harsh or irritating when something fragrance-free and non-comedogenic gentle at a neutral pH level will protect your skin’s natural barrier? Available in original formula and for oily skin, 200ml, $9.99; 500ml, $17.99.
2. Burt’s Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint Rosemary Body Wash. Body washes need to be bubbly and smell delicious. I don’t ask a lot from this type of product, so these two criteria have to be met in spades. Burt’s Bees’ Fabulously Fresh Peppermint Rosemary has a soft yet refreshing mint scent, perfect for slow, groggy mornings. It lathers up beautifully as well, without drying the skin. 350ml, $11.99.
3. Carmex Lip Balm. This lip balm has been around since the 1930s, originally in little pots (still available) but now also in squeeze-tubes and in stick-form. It’s a favourite because it’s hydrating while leaving a non-gloopy, satin-like finish that works well under lipsticks and lip glosses. It’s also medicated with salicylic acid, which helps cell shedding and renewal, keeping lips plump and rosy. $2.99
4. Everland Organic Coconut Oil. This is definitely the most versatile product in the lot. It can be used as an all-natural body moisturizer, makeup remover (especially for stubborn sunblocks and long-lasting, waterproof makeup), hair masque (it’s one of the few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft), hair serum (shiny, shiny, shiny), and a few other uses I’ve not stumbled across yet. I always have a jar of this in my bathroom cabinet. 454 ml, $9.99.
5. Nivea Creme (blue tin). Now this is very important: the back of the tin must read: “Made in Germany”. There are different formulations floating around and luckily, in Canada, we import the one from Germany although you’ll occasionally find versions from elsewhere. The crème in the blue tin that’s made in Germany is reputed to be very similar to another ultrarich, ultra-expensive crème that, if bought in the 400ml quantity, would cost around $2673 (before tax). Of course, it’s great for elbows, heels, hands and cuticles, but don’t be afraid to use it on the face with a lighter touch. It offers instant relief to dry and dehydrated skin and even works as a lovely eye cream. 200ml, $9.99; 500ml, $17.99.

Tools and Accessories

The right tools and accessories can make life so much easier and prettier. Invest in some of these quality and ingenious items and you’ll never be caught unprepared.

Pictured above, from left to right:

1. EcoTools. These are good-quality, eco-friendly brushes, perfect for keeping in your purse or gym bag. They are 100% cruelty-free, have incredibly soft bristles made of synthetic taklon, and have handles made of bamboo and recycled aluminium ferrules. $6.99 – $19.99
2. Goody Spin Pins. If you have long hair and a penchant for top knots, these corkscrew-like pins will give you secure, slip-free updos, whether you’re going for a Betty Bunhead or a loose, chic chignon. Available in assorted colours, two spin pins for $6.99.
3. London Look Glass Nail File. Glass nail files are far more forgiving and accurate than traditional metal nail files. These taper every contour with precision and with far fewer strokes, without leaving a snag behind. $8
4. Tweezerman Magnifying Mirror. This mirror offers 12x magnification, which is what you need if you’re tweezing your eyebrows, drawing on winged eyeliner or doing pin-point concealing. You don’t know what you’re missing until you try it, and once you do, you’ll never be without it again. $20
5. Tweezerman Slant-tip Tweezers. This is the most expensive item featured in this article, but is so indispensible I broke the $20 limit to include it. It’s really the best brand of tweezers available and worth every penny. The tips stay sharp for much longer and when they do become dull, Tweezerman offers free sharpening service. Their razor-sharp blades will prevent breakage, ripping, and ingrown hairs. These are the only tweezers to consider. $25

Special thanks to Taylor Skwarok, Beauty Advisor at London Drugs, for the guided tour.